Judgment Day by Wanda L. Dyson

Book Description:

Sensational journalism has never been so deadly.
The weekly cable news show Judgment Day with Suzanne Kidwell promises to expose businessmen, religious leaders, and politicians for the lies they tell. Suzanne positions herself as a champion of ethics and morality with a backbone of steel—until a revelation of her shoddy investigation tactics and creative fact embellishing put her in hot water with her employers, putting her credibility in question and threatening her professional ambitions..
Bitter and angry, Suzanne returns home one day to find an entrepreneur she is investigating, John Edward Sterling, unconscious on her living room floor. Before the night is over, Sterling is dead, she has his blood on her hands, and the police are arresting her for murder. She needs help to prove her innocence, but her only hope, private investigator Marcus Crisp, is also her ex-fiancé–the man she betrayed in college.
Marcus and his partner Alexandria Fisher-Hawthorne reluctantly agree to take the case, but they won’t cut Suzanne any slack. Exposing her lack of ethics and the lives she’s destroyed in her fight for ratings does little to make them think Suzanne is innocent. But as Marcus digs into the mire of secrets surrounding her enemies, he unveils an alliance well-worth killing for. Now all he has to do is keep Suzanne and Alex alive long enough to prove it.

My Thoughts:
I very much enjoyed this book! Suzanne is a show host who does her own research. She absolutely loves breaking stories and seems to go out of her way to drag everyone's dirty laundry out. Her boss tells her to tone it down, get sources, and drop one certain story but she refuses. Soon the tables are turned on her and she is arrested for murder when the police arrive at her home and find a body and her with blood literally on her hands. She hires the best PI there is, it just happens to be her ex-fiance and his partner, the ex whom she betrayed in college. Marcus isn't happy about taking the case but he and Alex agreed to take it on. Now they just have to all stay alive to prove Suzanne's innocence.
I absolutely loved Marcus and Alex. They were wonderful people, each has their flaws and issues but that is life. I never did really like Suzanne but I half think that was the point of the whole book. You just like to dislike Suzanne. She has no morals, ethics and seems a complete conspiracy theorist. The twists in the book were unexpected. Lots of suspense and just overall a good book!
4/5 this was a good suspenseful read that anyone would enjoy!

Thank you to Librarything for the review copy of this book. I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.

Earl of Darkness by Alix Rickloff

Book Description:

Born a lady, but reduced to surviving in the slums of Dublin, Catriona O’Connell has been hired to steal a mysterious book from Aidan Douglas, Earl of Kilronan. But Cat is secretly Other, an age-old mixture of Fey and human—something Aidan recognizes immediately when he surprises the lovely young burglar in his library, about to steal a magical diary.
From the moment Aidan sees her, Cat’s spirited beauty enchants him, but her uncanny abilities are what he truly needs, for Cat can understand the mystical language in the diary he inherited from his murdered father. So Aidan makes an offer: translate the book or be thrown in prison as a thief. And as Cat slowly deciphers each page, she and Aidan are drawn together by passion . . . and into the violence of the Other world that is the Kilronan legacy. Can they defeat those who seek the book, or are their lives in even greater danger than their hearts?

My Thoughts:

Cat is hired to steal an old book from Aidan Douglas, the only problem is she gets caught. Aidan is immediately intrigued by Cat, but more especially when he realizes she can read the diary his father left to him. He gives Cat a choice to either translate the book for him or go to jail as a thief. She makes the smart choice and translates. Another, Lazarus, is hired to steal the book and told to kill anyone in his way. Aidan and Cat are on the run, translating as they go, Aidan is learning things he doesn't like and both are fighting to stay alive!

I was immediately drawn to Cat's character. She may be a thief now but she was born 'royal'! The chemistry between her and Aidan is wonderful. The magic and paranormal elements in the book are quite easy to accept as just normal so I love how easily the author worked those in. Aidan could be a bit self-centered at times but it is understandable with what all he is going through so you can relate well to him. I can't wait for the next in this series!

This is a solid 4/5. I enjoyed all the characters and it was a good, engrossing read.

Thank you to Pocketbooks for the review copy of this book. I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.

Tempted by Fate Giveaway Winners!

And here are the winners of the Tempted by Fate Giveaway:
Brook, east.ofeden, and Loretta Canton. I'll now email the winners. Congrats!!

There were 10 items in your list. Here they are in random order:

1.8. Brooke
2.6. east.of eden
3.5. Loretta Canton
4.7. Maureen
5.1. elaing8
6.2. Martha Lawson
7.10. Zoe
8.4. Cheryl F. {The Lucky Ladybug}
9.3. Linda Henderson
10.9. Benita
Timestamp: 2010-12-29 18:47:39 UTC

The Scent of Jasmine by Jude Deveraux

Book Description:

Charleston, 1799 — A daughter of Southern gentility and a gifted painter, Catherine Edilean Harcourt has no lack of suitors at home in Virginia, waiting to fulfill her dream of marriage and family. But Cay’s adventurous spirit, fostered by growing up with her three brothers, is piqued while visiting her godfather in South Carolina. Bedridden with a broken leg, he asks Cay to fill in for him on an urgent task: on her way to a fancy dress ball, she must deliver a packed horse to an old friend’s son -- who also happens to be an escaped convict charged with murdering his wife! Cay agrees to the plan, which doesn’t go at all as planned . . . whereupon she finds herself fleeing Alexander McDowell’s captors, riding blind into the night with the fugitive Scotsman. Though she should fear him, Cay finds herself overwhelmingly attracted to Alex, and drawn into his tale of misguided justice and his innocence as they seek refuge in the steamy Florida everglades. Will trusting him be the worst mistake of her life? Or will falling in love be the salvation both of them have been looking for?

My Thoughts:
I really enjoyed this book. Catherine or Cay as her friends call her completely adores her godfather, Connor, and would do anything for him. Alex is accused of murdering his bride on their wedding night and is now a fugitive from justice. Per her godfather's request Cay takes a package to his old friend's son and it turns into the adventure of a lifetime! Alex can't believe Conner sent a woman to rescue him but now he's stuck with her and they have to get away so he can prove his innocence. But the woman Connor sent could be just what he needs...

I loved the twists this book took! Connor is so conniving and sure of himself. The author brings in Cay's three brother's wonderfully and they add so much to the plot. Deveraux's description and use of Cay's father is intriguing, men like that are so wonderfully old school and I love them. Cay herself was daring, self assured and just so likable. Alex is a gem and I am now in love with his character :)
This was a 4/5. Definitely an enjoyable read.

Thank you to Pocketbooks for the review copy of this book. I recieved this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.

Ethan's Chase by Bronwyn Storm Giveaway Winner

And the winner of the signed copy of Ethan's Chase is....
Kendra Smith. I'm sending her an email now :)

There were 6 items in your list. Here they are in random order:

1.1. Kendra Smith
2.6. Benita
3.2. Linda Henderson
4.5. Loretta Canton
5.4. Martha Lawson
6.3. Cheryl F
Timestamp: 2010-12-23 16:41:13 UTC

Guest Blog Katie Salidas & Ebook Giveaway!

Media Release:
After being forced to reveal her true nature to Fallon her human best friend, Alyssa finds she done more than just broken vampire law, she's created a new pawn in the Acta Sanctorum's game of vampire extermination..
Hunters & Prey, an Immortalis novel, Urban Fantasy, by Katie Salidas, was released by publisher Rising Sign Books, LLC. in December 2010.
Becoming a vampire saved Alyssa from death, but the price was high: the loss of everything and everyone attached to her mortal life. She’s still learning to cope when a surprise confrontation with Santino Vitale, the Acta Sanctorum’s most fearsome hunter, sends her fleeing back to the world she once knew, and Fallon, the friend she’s missed more than anything.
Alyssa breaks vampire law by revealing her new, true self to her old friend, a fact which causes strong division in the group that should support her most: her clan.
Worse yet, her revelation entangles Fallon in the struggle between vampires and hunters and The Acta Sanctorum is ready to attack again, with a new army of hybrid creations: the Frenzy Soldiers.
If Alyssa hopes to survive and keep her mortal friend safe, she’ll have to be willing to make a deal with the enemy, and regain her clan’s support. It will take everyone working together in a precarious truce to fight against the Acta Sanctorum’s new threat.
Immortalis: Hunters & Prey by Katie Salidas, was released in March 2010 – Distributor – Ingram
ISBN 978-0-9844196-5-4– Fantasy Trade Paperback - $13.99 – Page Count 300
Learn more at http://www.risingsignbooks.com/

About The Author:

Author of the hot new Urban Fantasy series, Immortalis, Katie has always had a desire to entertain. Since, early childhood, she's dreamed up fantastical characters and scribbled them into pages of various journals and notebooks. Taking an interest in vampires at an early age, she devoured every book, featuring those mysterious, blood sucking creatures, in any genre she could find. She claims that, of all the monsters out there, vampires had always been the most interesting.
It was only natural that a love of reading about vampires, and a love of writing, turned into a desire to write her own stories.
A Las Vegas native, having grown up in the famed City of Sin, Katie loves to feature it as a recurring setting for many of her stories.
Blog
http://myimmortalstories.blogspot.com/

Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/ksalidas?ref=profile

Facebook Author Fansite
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Katie-Salidas-Author/214780936916

Myspace
http://www.myspace.com/katelv

LinkedIn
http://www.linkedin.com/profile?viewProfile=&key=58814031&trk=tab_pro

Twitter
http://twitter.com/QuixoticKatie

GoodReads
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3395431.Katie_Salidas

*****Now the wonderful Author above has offered to do a giveaway of one of her 4 books (in ebook format). They are avaliable from Smashwords so you will be sent a coupon if you win. To enter, leave a comment with your choice of the books listed below and your email address. The giveaway will last until January 20, 2011 so tell your friends!!!!

1. Immortalis Hunters & Prey (Book 2 Urban Fantasy/Paranormal Romance)
After being forced to reveal her true nature to Fallon her human best friend, Alyssa finds she done more than just broken vampire law, she's created a new pawn in the Acta Sanctorum's game of vampire extermination. If Alyssa hopes to keep her friend alive and her clan safe, she'll have to call in all the support she can, even if that means making a deal with the enemy.

2. Immortalis Carpe Noctem (Book 1 Urban Fantasy/Paranormal Romance)
Bleeding to death after brutal mugging , twenty-five year old Alyssa, is rescued by an unlikely hero. The cold and aloof vampire, Lysander. By saving Alyssa, he unwittingly thrust her into a dark world filled with blood lust and thousand-year old vendettas. Now, she must find the strength to accept her terrifying new reality or die by the hands of Lysander's enemies.

3. Halloween Fantasies (paranormal erotica)
Touted as the sexiest party of the year, the annual Halloween Fantasy Ball is the one place a girl can let loose and succumb to her wildest fantasies. Disguised as a sexy vampire huntress, Sasha captures the attention of Dante, a real life creature of the night. And this sexy vampire has a few fantasies to share.

4. House of Immortal Pleasures -(paranormal romance)
Sometimes the only way to mend a broken heart is to get back in the saddle. At least that is how Daphne’s friends see it. And since Daphne isn’t showing any signs of letting that happen, they take it into their own hands. With a few shots of liquid courage, a pat on the ass, and a donated gold card, Daphne is unwillingly sent into a fantasy room to meet her creature of the night, Connor.

Duchess of Sin Giveaway Winners

Here are the winners for Duchess of Sin:
Kendra, Cheryl F. and Lisa R.
I will now send out the email to the winners.

There were 13 items in your list. Here they are in random order:

1.3. Kendra
2.8. Cheryl F. {The Lucky Ladybug}
3.10. Lisa R/alterlisa
4.5. elaing8
5.7. Michele
6.6. Linda Henderson
7.2. Mary
8.12. Nancy
9.13. mbreakfield
10.9. Maureen
11.1. PoCoKat
12.4. Chelle
13.11. Brooke
Timestamp: 2010-12-17 17:09:39 UTC

Dining with Joy by Rachel Hauck

Book Description:
Joy Ballard has a secret: she's a cooking show host who can't really cook.
When her South Carolina-based cooking show, Dining With Joy, is picked up by a major network, Joy Ballard's world heats up like a lowcountry boil.
Joy needs help. Then she meets chef Luke Davis who moved to Beaufort after losing his Manhattan restaurant. A cook at the Frogmore Cafe, he’s paying debts and longing to regain his reputation in the elite foodie world.
Luke and Joy mix like oil and water…until Joy is exposed on national television. With her career and his reputation both under fire, they’ll have to work together to fix the mess. Is it possible that they can learn to feast on God’s love and dine with joy?

My Thoughts:
This was an entertaining book! Joy has to take over her father's cooking show with one 'minor' problem....she can't cook! The cooking show is picked up by a national station and now Joy is going to have to be even more creative in hiding her secret. Luke on the other hand CAN cook and Joy thinks he will be her salvation. She can host while he cooks. Before she can get that worked out, her secret is spilled, on the air, and she and Luke lose their jobs!
I loved how the author made you feel what the characters felt. Joy basically had to respect her father's wishes and continue with the show. She didn't have only herself to think about but her mom and nieces (she is helping raise). I also like how she and Luke have complimenting personalities instead of similar ones...that made it much more interesting. Overall a delightfully fun, romantic read.
This book is a 4/5. A sweetly romantic read.

Thank you to Booksneeze for the review copy of this book. I received this book in exchange an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.

The Fall Guy by Simon Wood

Book Description:
Todd Collins has failed in every job he's ever undertaken, but that all changes when he backs his jalopy in a shiny, new Porsche belonging to a drug dealer. When the police stop the drug dealer for a broken taillight that Todd has caused and discover a cocaine shipment, a West Coast kingpin holds Todd responsible. On the run from organized crime, Todd discovers his true calling.



My Thoughts:

This was definitely a thriller! Todd backed into the wrong car and gets thrown into the chaos. He is running from criminals who think it is his fault they lost so much money when through an unfortunate (for Todd) series of events leads to their drug shipment being found. He gets tangled in crime's sticky web and finds that he may just fit there....
Todd was a very interesting character. He seems to start out just an average joe who wishes for more and whose money doesn't make ends meet. Then when he gets into the criminal world, he makes some armature mistakes but finds his footing fast! He does have a conscience and I liked that. He wanted revenge and took it but didn't go overboard like I half expected him to.
I rate this a 4/5. It was a good, quick read that had some harsh insight into human nature.


Thank you to the author for the review copy of this book. I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.

Tempted by Fate Giveaway!

Book Description:
Willow Tarata is a Guardian who trusts no one. She hunts those who prey on the vulnerable. And she's driven by a vengeful goal-find the man who murdered her mother. Yet suddenly Willow's quarry now has her on the run . . . straight into the sights of San Francisco's most dangerous detective. Three bizarre murders have Inspector Rick Ramirez baffled-and determi... more »ned to uncover the truth. But to catch the real killer, he needs the help of his prime suspect, Willow Tarata, even though this fierce and sexy blonde is challenging his professional cool. And now, unless they believe in each other and trust their deepest instincts, a relentless evil will end both Willow's and Rick's life-and claim this Guardian's extraordinary powers forever . . .

Thanks to Hachette Book Group I have 3 copies to Giveaway!!! Here are the rules.

• You must be a follower to participate
• Leave Me a Comment on THIS post with your e-mail (no e-mail you can't win)
• US & Canadian Residents only
• No PO Boxes
• Hachette Book Group will be sending the copies to the winners
• You have 24 hours to respond if you are contacted as a winner, if you miss the deadline, a new winner will be chosen and contacted.
• Contest is open until December 25, 2010
• Winners will be chosen using a randomizer
• Directly from Hachette: Winners will be subject to the one copy per household rule, which means that if they win the same title in two or more contests, they will receive only one copy of the title (or one set in the case of grouped giveaways) in the mail.